Why are men no longer encouraged to wait for marriage?

We live in a world that no longer encourages men to wait for marriage. As a man, there is even less of an encouragement to wait. Girls get purity rings and are encouraged to wait for marriage but what about boys? There seems to be no encouragement or desire to wait for “the one.” Believe me, being around the guys I’ve heard it all but I’ve never heard someone say they are waiting. If they are, they are too embarrassed to say.

We as human beings get so caught up in the heat of the moment and we tend to lose sight of the end goal. We give and give parts of ourselves to everyone we meet, parts that we will never get back. Before we know it everyone we know has a piece of us and there is nothing left to give to our spouse that someone else doesn’t have.

Saving yourself for marriage is a gift that only one person should get, it’s a piece of you that no one else will have. It was designed for one person, but as time progressed we were encouraged that it is okay to give it away. It just happens. Forms of birth control are readily available and encouraged because “we can’t expect them to wait until marriage.” I would like to pay off my student loans but does that mean I should go rob a bank because I don’t want to wait 10 years to pay them off? No. Should I go steal a car because I don’t have enough money to buy a new one? No. I can wait. You can wait. It is possible.

Boys are encouraged to be boys but they can’t be boys without girls. Boys should be encouraged to wait, the same way that girls are. Boys need to learn how to treat girls and that relationships aren’t all about sex. Boys need to learn the consequences just like girls. It’s not fair and it needs to be addressed on both sides. Boys need to know that purity is a gift and that it should be saved for the one.

Men are looked down upon if they are still a virgin at any age. If they don’t look at a girl’s body as she walks by or talk about their sex life then they are made fun of or asked if they are gay. Derogatory comments are the norm and accepted as such, with no respect for the girl/woman involved.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV)

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

It all shocks me in a way because we all have Mothers, Aunts, Grandmas and some even sisters. Women play such a big part in all of our lives but we fail to respect the ones that come in and out of our lives on a daily basis. Women are treated like pieces of meat and the media only encourages that behavior. One day these boys may have daughters of their own. Do they want their daughters to wait? It is time to be the change we wish to see in the world. God told us to wait for a reason, but some chose not to listen. We think that we know better than God but we don’t.

I wish that more guys would step up and be who God has called them to be. To treat women with respect should not be something of the past. Women should still be cherished, doors should still be held, and dinners should still be paid for. Women shouldn’t have to beg for their men to go get a job and take care of their children. It shouldn’t be like this but it is.

I for one, value and cherish the women in my life. I have made a commitment to God that I will save myself for the one He has for me. No, I will not miss out on anything by saving myself. I know God has blessings for me that I cannot imagine. I will wait and I will be pure because that’s what He has asked. After all, He knows what’s best.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (KJV)

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.